When all the excuses are removed. When the desire returns. When the dechurched make initial steps in returning to the local body, one thing consistently slows their progress and makes it difficult for them to assimilate back into the church: Complexity. Churches have become too complicated, and there are too many unwanted barriers to entry (or re-entry).

In the book, Simple Church, the theme of complexity emerged continually. Pastors as well as nominal church members expressed their sense that church has become too complicated and too busy. There just is no clear path for an individual to grow spiritually. Instead of a clear path of discipleship, churches are a series of seemingly unconnected programs and activities.

My research has shown that many young people leave the church because they were never truly discipled. They may have been involved in a plethora of activities, but they weren't growing spiritually to be more like Christ. A church cannot be essential to people unless there is a clear structure helping guide them along the discipleship process.

So what makes a simple structure attractive to those new or returning to church? Let me offer some insights from our research that point to the attraction of simplicity.

Simplicity Clarifies Purpose
Frankly, most of the young adult dechurched that we interviewed in our study became confused when they attempted re-entry into a church. And they were confused even when they were active in a church. They were uncertain what the church was all about; they did not know the church's purpose. And this generation is not their parent's generation. They do not attend church just because they are supposed to attend church. There must be a purpose behind their actions. Let's be honest. Do you really think people know the five or six different vision statements in some complex churches? Our observation is that the leaders do not even know their own church's vision statements.Young people just ignore them. It is too complex.

Can you imagine interviewing for a job with say, Microsoft, and asking the interview to describe what Microsoft does? You would be expecting a straightforward response like, "Microsoft develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices."

But what if, instead of giving you a clear understanding of what the company does, the interviewer begins to tell you about their different divisions, departments, and activities. You, then, repeat the question but the interviewer again tells you some of the activities of the 80,000 employees. You would probably leave the interview shaking your head. You just want to know what the company does.

How much more important, then, is it for the local church to be clear about its purpose? Unfortunately, most churches in America look like a web of somewhat related activities that have no clear goal in mind. The young dechurched today, if they are to return to church, must see a clear and compelling purpose in the church they ultimately may choose. And they may not ever become dropouts if the church has that clear and compelling purpose.

Simplicity Encourages Spiritual Growth
Helping people become spiritually mature is not a new concern for churches. It has been the goal all along. Developing a process of discipleship within your church structure, however, is a strategic issue that has been terribly neglected. Many church dropouts desire to grow spiritually despite being disconnected from the body, but proper growth must come from a connection to the local church.

The problem is that many churches do not have in place a clear process of spiritual growth. In order for churches to best communicate high expectations and biblical depth, a simple structure must be in place to guide and direct people towards these goals.

Biblical depth is more important than the discipleship structure of the church. But churches that do not have a structure in place cannot move people towards an understanding of this depth. A culture of high expectations is more important than the structure of a church. Without this structure, however, a church has difficulty communicating these expectations. A multiplying church is more important than the structure. But without structure, people do not know how to multiply. The right structure is not the most important facet of a church, but most churches cannot carry out their most important purposes because they do not have the right structure.

Simplicity Requires Intentionality
Discipleship does not happen by accident. Simplicity does not fall into place haphazardly. Nor does a simple church structure come naturally. It must be taught and reinforced, and becoming simple requires church leaders to become intentional.

While moving to a healthy structure needs to happen, the transition will not be easy. It is change. In fact, it is the one of the most visible changes a church makes. The move to simplify is a difficult process. In fact, the longer your church has been complex, the more difficult the transition will be.

This transition requires intentionality because the church is not only process-driven and purpose-driven, but also relationship-driven. Design and structure are critically important, but changing them means moving people.

When a culture of intentionality finally permeates a church, however, it becomes easier to connect ministry and people. Things as ordinary as ministry space will be viewed for their potential to attract or detract from the process of discipleship. For instance, a church with a simple and intentional structure will create ministry space that fits their goals. It's no longer a classroom, but rather a tool for facilitating a model of education.

If we ranked the most important parts of our physical bodies, the heart would be near the top. Or the brain. Or perhaps the lungs. But try to have a living human body without any bones and you will see the importance of structure. The skeleton may not be the most important part of our body, but the more important parts cannot function without it.

A simple structure is not the most vital facet of a church, and structure alone has little attractional value. Creatively reaching the culture is more important. Doctrine is more important. Clear membership expectations are more important. Multiplying communities of faith is more important. Each of those more important areas, however, may not come alive in your church without the right structure. And connecting these areas with a simple structure makes your church more inviting, attractive, and purposeful.